Learn to Write Chinese Characters

by Johan Björksten

Chinese characters are one of the most fascinating aspects of the language and occupy a prominent place in Chinese culture. Good handwriting is also very important in learning Chinese: the strokes that make up the characters must be written in a certain rigidly specified order, and they must also be written in a special way.
This book is the only introductory manual for writing Chinese characters prepared specifically for an English-speaking audience. The author guides the reader through the fundamentals of writing and introduces the different types of script used in China today, their evolution, their place in Chinese tradition, and the relation among them. The book provides basic instruction in writing with a modern fountain pen rather than a brush. Only commonly used characters—both simplified and full forms—appear as examples and exercises. Also included is an explanation of how to look up characters in a Chinese dictionary.
This attractive and charming book, full of anecdotes and calligraphic aphorisms, is both a useful classroom tool and an enjoyable reading experience for anyone with an interest in the language and culture of China.

Genres: China, Language, Linguistics, Reference, Nonfiction

123 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Johan Björksten, born in Sweden in 1964, studied at Uppsala University and lives in China (Shangai) since his first visit in 1986.

In 1994, he founded Eastwei Relations, which became one of China’s largest public relations and strategic communications consultancies. In 2010, he successfully sold Eastwei to Publicis Groupe and since 2012 Johan is China Chairman of the integrated operations, named MSL China. In 2012 he was named founding director of the Global Corporate Culture Research Center, founded by renowned Chinese super-entrepreneur Li Shufu.

Johan is probably one of best known Swedes in China, having been a radio and TV host for eight years with his own weekly Chinese programmes on Beijing TV and Beijing Music Radio.
He has a Master’s degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, and speaks fluent Chinese.

[https://www.eastcapital.com/Corporate...]

Reviews

[Manny]

From Jan Kjærstad's Oppdagaren, which I am currently rereading:

Hun förklarte det kompliserte tegnet for meg, viste meg til og med hvordan det kinesiske ordet for hjerte - fire vakre streker, liksom kamre - lå i midten, som et ord i ordet. "En kjærlighet uten hjerte er ingen kjærlighet," mumlet hun, mest til seg selv. Så retet hun igen blikket mot meg. "Det kan ha vært noe du ikke forsto med den personen som skrev det," sa Margrete.

My translation:

She explained the complicated character, and even showed me how the Chinese word for 'heart' - four elegant strokes, like the heart's four chambers - lay in the middle, a word inside the word. "Love with no heart is not love," she murmured, mostly for herself. Then she looked at me again. "Maybe there was something you failed to understand about the person who wrote it," said Margrete.

[Adela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had stumbled upon this guide earlier on my journey of learning Chinese, it would have been very useful.

[Pilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is a real great book, very didactic and aesthetic. I had a great time reading it, practicing and enjoying the calligraphy of Chinese characters.

[Karen Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to learn Chinese on my own, this book broke through some barriers for me. This book explains that to be able to read even a few characters, you will do best by learning how the characters are written.

Part of the breakthrough is that Bjorksten guides you through learning with a fountain pen. Other resources indicated that I needed a brush and block ink in order to even start. I would love to have time and a place to learn the brush, but that is not practical now.

Here is an excerpt on writing the stroke Heng to give you an idea.

To write the stroke, set your pen down at the left with a certain force. Then move it slightly downward and ...

[Stephen Heverin]

Learn to Write Chinese Characters (Yale Language Series) by Johan Bjorksten (1994)